Observation buoy



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Alflg. 1, 1.944. s. KOTELEV ETAL OBSERVATION BUOY y Filed Feb. 26, 1942 Flai Aug. 1, 1944. vs. G. KOTELEV ET Al. 2,354,758

I, OBSERVATION BUOY v Filed Feb. 26, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i, o 59 l 4' l 2 0 \5 i 22 I `22 2 W3 I3' M 44- *8| SER GE @Kohn E l/ BY' ya@ @www ATTpRNEv Patented ug. l, 1944 Serge.v

G Kotelev and Sople F. Kotelev,

" Longrlsland City,` N. Y.

Application February 26, 19421, Serial No. 432,466

` y f 3 Claims.

Our invention relates to observation buoys and has particular reference to buoys made in the form of hollow 'sealed vessels adapted to be anchored in a desired position in open waters, near harbors, etc. Our invention has for its object to provide a hollow buoy so constructed that it can be occupied by a crew of operators andprovided with facilities for observing the vicinity of the buoy and reporting to shore stations'the 'presence of enemy ships or airplanes. f y

We also provide our buoy withl adi'sappear'-y ing gun of a suitable' caliber, preferablyl light machine guns which canbeus'ed for-'defense or attack.

Another object of means to support thefbuoyon an anchored chain, means being provided .-to' adjust the length of the chain from the inside of the buoy for moving the buoy from one place to the other. We also provide means to` turn the buoy in a desired direction.

Another object of our invention is to provide a buoy with torpedo tubes which can be discharged in a desired direction. We provide for this purpose torpedo tubes at the bottom of the buoy for ordinary automotive torpedoes which can be discharged by compressedair or other suitable agency.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a telescopic periscope and a telescopic observation dome having on top a controlled searchlight.

Our invention is more fully described in the accompanying specication and drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a sectional elevational view of our buoy;

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view of the anchor chain support;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the anchor;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the buoy;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the same.

Gur mooring buoy consists of a vessel I made of metal and preferably welded to make it air `ght, although, of course, it can be made air tight by other suitable methods. The walls of the vessel are lined on the outside with a layer 2 of heat-insulating material, such as plywood, plastic, etc. A drum 3 is rotatively supported on a shaft 4 in brackets 5, 5 at the bottom of the vessel I and supports a chain 6 for an anchor 'I. The anchor (Figs. 2 and 3) may have `four I 15 our invention is tov providev u a hole inthe bottom plate II andthrough an air-tight gland I2 in a false botto'm I3 between' two tubes I3 for torpedoes I4. The upper end of the shaft IIl has a'handwheel I5which can be turned vby an` operator I6 for winding the chain on the drum or for unwinding therefrom.' A tubular 'guide II for ythe chain vis rotativelyl supported on the ends of the drum Ishaft ll and` is moved'up or vdown bythe pressure of the chain. 'f v` The brackets 5, 5- are suspended from'an'i`ri ternal gear I8 rotatively mountedon' the' shaft It and engaging a-pinion' l9f"oniasta'tionary shaft 120 whose upper'end fis'fasten'ed fito the bottom wall II, anannular'bearing-lizlsupportl ing the gear I8. A central gear ZI .is in mesh with the pinion I9, being mounted on a tubular shaft 22, concentric with the shaft I0 and having a handwheel 23 at the end.

By turning the wheel 23 it is possible to turn the vessel in any desired direction, the internal gear I8 being held relatively stationary by the tension of the chain. A chair 24 is provided for the operator I6, the chair being preferably mounted on a swivel 25 so that it can be adjusted to a desired `position by the operator or moved to avoid excessive inclinations when heavy waves strike the vessel.

The torpedo tubes I3 are closed at the front by cover plates 26 sliding between rails 21 and having racks 28 engaged by pinions 29 on shafts 3G with handwheels 3l inside the vessel.

Sleeping beds 32, 33 are provided in the end portions of the vessels for the operators; also, a movable table 34 and other living facilities.

An elevated chair 35 is provided for a second operator 36, the chair being mounted on a telescopic post 31 which may be operated as a hydraulic cylinder, controlled by a pedal 38. The chair is placed inside an opening 39 in the deck 40 of the vessel. A transparent cylinder or dome 4I is slidably fitted in the opening 39, a packing gland l2 being provided to render the junction water-tight. The dome il is normally held in a raised position, as shown, the bottom flange 3 being held by clamps M. The chair 35 can be raisedv to the top of the dome, to enable the operator to observe the surface of the surrounding sea. Radio transmitting and receiving sets and other instruenemys position.

The top deck 40 is also provided with an opening or port 5I forming an entrance into the ves- The port is normally closed sel for the operators. Y by a lid, made water-tight by a rubber gasket '52i and tightening clamps 53. The lid is held on a` opening at the top for admitting a crew of operators into the vessel; a bracket rotatively supported on a vertical axis on the outer side of the bottom portion of the vessel; a exible member extending from the bracket adapted to be anchored to the bottom of a sea; and means to rotate the bracket froml the inside of the vessel thereby rotating the vessel in relation to the flexible member. f

2. An observation buoy comprising a hollow vessel adapted to oat in water and having an opening at the top for admitting a crew of operators into the vessel; means to support and to operate weapons of attack in the vessel; a bracket tion, shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. A machine' rotatively supported on the outer side oi the vessel; a flexible member extending from the gun or similar weapon 55 is mounted on articuj lated levers 56, 51 under the lid, being normally held in a folded position under the lid, as Lshown be swung into ring position, shown inidotted llnesin Fig. 1, when the lid is open. A removable orfolding table 59 is placed under the opening for supporting Vthe operator at the gun. The other operator inside the vessel will then help the gunner with the ammunition, etc.

A hook or eye 6l is provided on top of the vessel for raising it out of water by a crane; also f that our mooring buoy may Y 4zo in full lines in Fig; 1,v by astrap 58. yThe gun may ofa sea; a shaft extending from the bracket into the Yvessel; and means to manually rotate the shaft thereby rotating the vessel in a horizontal plane 'for placing the weapons in a desired direcv3. An observation buoy comprising a hollow vessel adapted to float in water and having an opening at the top for admitting a crew of operators into the vessel; means to support and to loperate weapons of attack in the vessel; a bracket 

